Page 9 - A River's Gifts: The Mighty Elwha River Reborn
P. 9
A SAFE PlAcE FOR YOuNg SALMON
Alevins (newborns) usually
hatch in spring and live close to
their redd (underwater gravel
nest) for a few months.
Males and females die
soon after spawning.
Alevins become fry
(juveniles) and stay in Males compete to
the river for up to a year. fertilize eggs. The
female covers the eggs
with small rocks.
Adult females swim
upstream to find good redd
sites. They turn on their
sides to dig with their tails.
When fry swim for the
sea, they become silvery
smolts with scales. They
feed at the mouth of
the river and adjust to Salmon spend up to seven years in the ocean. They
saltwater life. follow scents, chemical clues, and even the sun to return
to their home river to spawn (lay and fertilize eggs).
